Improvement in straw-cutters



A. Y. CLOUGH.

Straw Cutter.

Patented June: 21, 1864.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON Y. CLOUGH, OF CLARKSTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND NELSON WV. CLARK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STRAW-CUTTERS.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,254, dated June 21, 1864; ante'datcd.

June 18, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON Y. OLOUGH, of Glarkston, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Straw-Gutters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement and combination of the devices of an upright sliding frame, pitman, and double-acting treadle, for the purpose of cutting straw more easily and rapidly, and by the simplest and most economical mode possible.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the cutting-box of the strawcutter of the usual kind, with its cutterbar B.

In front is an upright frame, 0, having grooves in each side, in which asquare upright frame, D, operates. There is likewise an incline board, E, attached to frame C, over which the cut straw falls, and which board E assists in guiding and regulating the up and down movement of the frame D. Near the top of frame D the knife G is located and permanently fastened, so that the sharp edge of the knife is below and set slanting with the frame, that the downward movement of the frame D brings the knife in contact with the straw to cut on an incline instead of a straight or square out. At the lower end of perma nent frame C is an eccentric-shaped slot'or aperture, H, about eight inches in length. A strong crank pin, I, is permanently fastened into the lower side of frame D, to which a pitman, J, is attached. The pitman is also fastened at its other end to another crank-pin, K, which is firmly and permanently fixed to the inside of treadle L. The treadle L is doubleacting, and is slightly curved at its back and where it operates on a hinge as a fulcrum, connected with a projecting strip, M, of the frame 0. s

The operator places his one foot on the curved and rear end of the treadle L, and the opposite or-frout end of treadle raises, raising with it the pitman and frame D until the knife G is raised above the bed of straw. He then places his other foot upon the front end of treadle, and, bearing his weight upon it, brings down the knife G and the cutting is performed. Thus he continues moving the treadle up and down with his feet and cutting the straw rapidly and easily, while he has the full use of his hands to feed the cutter and keep the straw properly arranged for the cutting operation.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement and combination of the devices D, H, J, and L, as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

A. Y. OLOUGH.

Witnesses:

N. W. CLARK, DENNIs OoLmNs. 

